One of Northern Essex Community College’s fasting growing programs recently started a student club. NECC’s new Human Services Club welcomes students of all majors, and, so far, 30 students have signed up.

Front row (left to right) Evelyn Rodriguez, co-president and Maria DelaCruz co-president.
Back row (left to right) Maria Reynolds, vice president, Allison Bersey, co-secretary and Ben Isaacman, co-secretary.

The club meets weekly and gives students an opportunity to get involved in their communities.

Diana Mele, faculty advisor of the Human Services Club, said, she was approached by students who wanted to expand networking within the community, to allow for more volunteer opportunities.

The Human Services Club works closely with Mitch’s Place, a year round emergency overnight shelter for single men and women, and is planning to host a Pillow drive. The pillow drive gives people an opportunity to donate unused pillows to Mitch’s Place.

Coastal Connection, a non-profit agency, serving adults with intellectual and physical disabilities in Amesbury, MA, will be collaborating with the Human Services Club to work on horticultural projects. Students in the club will pair-up with consumers of the agency and work on planting, gardening and other projects.

Maria Delacruz, co-president of the Human Services Club says, being a part of the Human Services Club will “provide students with experience that will help them in any field of work.”

Benjamin Isaacman, co-secretary of the Human Services Club, hopes the club will help fill a need in the community.

The clubs officers are, Evelyn Rodriguez, co-president, Maria DelaCruz, co-president, Maria Reynolds, vice president, Allison Bersey, co-secretary, Ben Isaacman, co-secretary and Michelle Carney, treasurer.

The club will host a Halloween Bash on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 12 p.m. in room C311, where they will be discussing plans for volunteer work over the upcoming holiday season and adding suggestions to goals for the club. Everyone is welcome to join. Refreshments and treats will be served.

For more information, contact Diana Mele at dmele@necc.mass.edu or (978) 556-3359.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  More than 7,400 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 6,700 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley. Northern Essex is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.